Green Tea: How to Sweeten the Taste
Do you want to enjoy a cup of green tea, but don’t enjoy the natural bitterness? With a few small tweaks, you can sweeten the taste of your green tea without sacrificing the tea’s flavor and health benefits! Here are some ideas:
1. Select a sweeter variety
Choosing a variety of green tea with a naturally sweet taste is the simplest way to sweeten your tea. There are several varieties of green tea that naturally sweet and smooth, such as Sencha and Matcha. Chinese varieties of green tea such as Lung Chueng, Oolong, and Jasmine are also generally sweeter than unblended green teas.
2. Add a sweetener
If a sweeter variety still isn’t sweet enough to your liking, you can always add a sweetener. Honey, agave nectar, and pure maple sugar are all excellent options for sweetening your tea. Other options include Simple syrup, which is a mixture of sugar and boiling water, and sugar cane. Avoid artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame and Saccharin, as they could interfere with the natural flavor of the tea.
3. Use flavored green tea
If you’re looking for a sweeter cup of green tea without adding any additional sweeteners, you can try flavored green teas. Many green tea producers now offer flavored varieties, such as Peach, Coconut, and Raspberry. Adding a little bit of citrus such as lemon or lime is also a great way to sweeten and enhance the taste of green tea.
4. Add milk and/or cream
Milk and cream can help to sweeten green tea, as it helps to cut the bitterness. However, keep in mind that traditional green teas are usually not brewed with milk, so adding milk or cream may alter the flavor of the tea. Additionally, adding milk and cream adds calories, so this is not an option for those who are watching their calorie intake.
5. Use a sweeter tea base
If green tea alone isn’t providing enough sweetness, try using a sweeter tea base. White tea and oolong tea are both naturally sweeter than green tea, and can be blended with green tea to create a more enjoyable flavor. For an even sweeter treat, try adding some herbal teas such as chamomile, mint, or lemon balm.
No matter which method you choose, adding sweetness to your cup of green tea is a simple way to make it more enjoyable. So the next time you brew up a pot of green tea, try out one of these ideas to sweeten the flavor!